In the backdrop of increasing number of attacks on banks, the UP police department held a long meeting with bankers recently to discuss ways to better security. The meeting was attended by bankers from the entire Meerut district. Sources said the police told them about the security measures that could be adopted to prevent untoward incidents and that the banks hadn’t done enough for their safety.
During the course of the meeting, suggestions were also taken from bankers to spruce up the overall security apparatus. SSP S S Baghel apprised the gathering of the observations of the police department. He said, “Our survey says that security measures need to be strengthened in the banks. Defunct sirens and untrained guards are some of the things that immediately need upgradation.”
SP (City) Om Prakash said, “CCTV cameras are very important, but they are basically installed to keep check on employees and not on security. I visited a bank and realized there were 15 CCTV cameras and only one was installed for the road. All this must change.” SP (Rural) M M Beg said, “A siren’s press button must be installed at various positions so that anyone can press it when need arises.” Meanwhile, bankers also presented suggestions. For instance, S K Saxena, branch manager of State Bank of India in Mawana, said, “Police verification must be done of all the vendors who are stationed outside a bank because criminals never attack without recce.”
Another banker Anil Rastogi from Punjab National Bank, Kankerkhera, said, “There are many students who call up unaware bank customers and get the details of their ATM cards. Using those details they withdraw money through internet. Cyber crime branch must evolve methods to stop these activities.”
